Press release on countermeasures in relation to declaring employees of Russian diplomatic missions in Bulgaria personae non gratae

On August 5, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Russian Federation Atanas Krastin was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry where he was presented with a ministry’s note declaring 14 employees of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission and consulates in Russia personae non gratae.

This measure was a response to the Bulgarian party’s unwarranted decision to declare 70 employees of Russia’s diplomatic missions personae non gratae, to introduce quotas for the Russian diplomatic and administrative personnel in Bulgaria, and to temporarily close the Russian Consulate General in Ruse. We would like to emphasise that the responsibility for the repercussions of these counter-productive measures lies entirely with the government of Bulgaria, led by Kiril Petkov.

We believe that such actions not only seriously harm the traditional ties between our countries and infringe upon the rights of our compatriots who have been left without consular services, but also bear witness to the further degradation of the collective West, which is ready to sacrifice the interests of its partners in order to harm Russia. Official Sofia’s unconditional adherence to this destructive course is regrettable.

We are confident that the unfriendly steps towards Russia have nothing to do with the national interests of Bulgaria and its people.